Mystery Bird: Whimbrel, Numenius phaeopus

Let's get the discussion started!

I keep looking at those thighs. But I don't see a golden rump.

Ooo, is that a whimbrel? He has a stripey head and a lovely downcurved bill.

I'm far from my books now, but looking at the Cornell site. I'm thinking Whimbrel, too, but the tail looks shorter than in the other pictures I've looked at on the 'net.

The Cornell site map shows Texas as a non-breeding area for Whimbrels, but the date given is April. So, either the bird or I seem mixed up. (I'm guessing I am, since that's so often the case.)

The one the other day where the photo was upside-down, making it look like the beak was curved the wrong way. Now the photo's rightside-up.

Prominent barring on the flanks would seem to eliminate the Bristle-thighed Curlew. Another outside possibility might be a Marbled Godwit-but the excellent view of the downcurved bill in the great photo would seem to point to Whimbrel?

I think you and the bird are both OK, Bardiac. Whimbrels are world-class long-distance migrants, and a bird in Texas in late April could easily be on its Arctic breeding grounds in early May.

OTOH, this guy's awfully heavily worn, and I think it's likely to be a first-year bird. Those often don't migrate all the way to the breeding grounds, but rather either stay on the wintering grounds or make only a short spring trip.

Either way, neither of you would be mixed up.